Chapter 83

An unsubstantiated rumor circulated in the Imperial Palace: that the Emperor liked flowers.

Those who knew the current Emperor initially snorted in disbelief, but upon realizing that everyone in the palace was whispering the same thing, they began to believe the rumor was true.

The Emperor, too, searched for the source of the rumor.

“Consort Gwi-bi did?”

“Yes.”

The hand of the man, who was holding a teacup, paused. Seonjae did not enjoy tea, but he sometimes drank it in Dam So-ui’s residence.

“Ah, right. Today, Consort Gwi-bi Gyo must have been in an awkward position. It comes to mind as I drink tea.”

“What happened?”

“It was nothing major. When consorts visit Her Majesty the Empress, they carry handkerchiefs embroidered with flowers and poetry. As the Empress has suffered from a coughing illness for a long time, they carry the handkerchiefs together so that she does not feel left out. However, Consort Gwi-bi seemed completely unaware of this. Every consort in the hall, including Her Majesty the Empress, carried handkerchiefs with the same feature, but Consort Gwi-bi was the only one with empty hands. She must have been very embarrassed to be the only one empty-handed.”

Dam So-ui spoke with a regretful expression. He refilled his own teacup and then looked at the Emperor’s teacup.

The Emperor had barely drunk any tea, as usual. The man was lost in thought, his gaze fixed on the teacup. Seonjae, waking from his reverie, said lightly.

“Why didn’t you tell her yourself?”

“Me, Your Majesty? I did not know either, Your Majesty. I was merely lucky to have a handkerchief with the same features. And I am still afraid of Consort Gwi-bi.”

Seonjae let out a small laugh at Dam So-ui’s somber words.

“What is there to be afraid of with that fellow?”

“I still cannot forget what Consort Gwi-bi did to me.”

Seonjae shrugged his eyebrows at Dam So-ui’s gloomy statement. He tilted his teacup as if only wetting his lips, then put it down and called Dam Seo-jun closer.

“Has Consort Gwi-bi acted that way toward you again since then?”

The Emperor intimately touched Dam So-ui’s shoulder, whom he had called to sit closer.

“That is not the case.”

Dam So-ui denied it, yet could not hide his sulky expression. Seonjae gently stroked the back of his head, which was drooping with sadness.

“What do you have to worry about when I am here?”

“Your Majesty is busy with state affairs. You cannot only come to Donhu Palace.”

“You state the obvious. I shall leave now. You don’t have to escort me out.”

The Emperor pulled Dam So-ui’s shoulder to him, patted it, and stood up. Dam Seo-jun watched the man, who just left without a word of coming back at night, with a disappointed expression. He rose in a weakened manner and went out to escort the Emperor.

When Dam So-ui left the hall.

The Emperor was already crossing the door of Donhu Palace. The Emperor’s Chief Eunuch, who was like the Emperor’s shadow, stood close beside the man and walked. The Emperor and the Chief Eunuch exchanged words intimately.

“Your Majesty, have you found the source?”

“Consort Gwi-bi was ostracized by the consorts and sold me out. Even when a person is in a rush, there are things one can say and things one should not say. That I like flowers… What flower do I like?”

At Seonjae’s exasperated words, Grand Eunuch Wan paused and lowered his face deeply.

“…”

Seonjae stopped walking at the Chief Eunuch Wan’s quiet reaction. It was a situation where the Chief Eunuch should have offered an appropriate reply. The Emperor sent a fierce gaze at the Chief Eunuch Wan’s silent lack of comment.

“Chief Eunuch Wan.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Do you know who told Consort Gwi-bi the geomungo composition that I enjoy listening to?”

The Emperor’s stern gaze and Chief Eunuch Wan’s slightly smiling eyes met in the air.

“It was I, Your Majesty. However, Your Majesty, how could a humble servant fully comprehend Your Majesty’s deep and endless intentions? I merely spoke of plausible things to look good to the Consort Majesty.”

“Regardless, isn’t it because of you, Wan Seop-hyeon, that I heard the ridiculous rumor that I like flowers?”

“I am wrongfully accused.”

“Indeed, the one who erred is Consort Gwi-bi. I shall go to Giryung Palace tonight.”

Chief Eunuch Wan wanted to ask why the conclusion was reached that way.

“…”

But he did not want to bring back the arrow that had just missed him. He felt sorry for Consort Gwi-bi, but he possessed a potent weapon that could instantly soften the Emperor’s fierceness. Furthermore, lately, Consort Gwi-bi was not only talented at the geomungo.

While diligently rationalizing his actions, Chief Eunuch Wan tilted his deeply lowered face.

“Is there a problem?”

“No, Your Majesty. I will go and personally inform Giryung Palace.”

At the Emperor’s fault-finding words, Chief Eunuch Wan bowed and backed away.

******

The Emperor was arbitrary, capricious, and eccentric.

He was the absolute ruler.

Yeon-oh had not seen a single strand of the man’s hair for nearly ten days. A consort could not visit the Emperor first. Even greetings could only be paid if the Emperor commanded it.

At the announcement of the Emperor’s arrival, Yeon-oh plucked the geomungo strings to check the sound, like a diligent geomungo player. He checked the strings every day, even when the man did not come. The hand pressing the strings was meticulous, but Yeon-oh’s expression while looking at the geomungo was indifferent.

“His Majesty the Emperor is arriving!”

The eunuch’s announcement echoed from a very close distance. Yeon-oh, who was sitting in front of the geomungo and turned to look to the side, was startled.

The inner chamber door opened, and the Emperor was entering. Palace servants of Giryung Palace, carrying lanterns, followed him in and moved busily.

“We pay our respects to His Majesty the Emperor. May Your Majesty enjoy boundless fortune.”

It was still early evening.

Due to the Emperor’s swift arrival, the palace servants hurriedly moved to put down the lanterns. The palace servants, having finished their work, lowered their faces deeply and withdrew.

“Consort Gwi-bi.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Seonjae, standing in front of Yeon-oh, extended his hand. [Read on RanaTranslations🌸] Since he was bowing his head, Yeon-oh vaguely only felt a shadow fall close to his face.

Everyone else had been dismissed.

The man’s hand lightly touched Yeon-oh’s cheek. Yeon-oh, whose face was in the posture of paying respects, raised his gaze at the gently touching hand. Seeing the large hand extended to him, Yeon-oh hesitated and placed his hand over the man’s.

The Emperor put strength into his hand and helped Yeon-oh rise. A peculiar smile spread across the man’s expressionless face.

“Young Master Gyo, I heard you were disgraced?”

When a smile appeared on the cold face, life was added to it. Yeon-oh could not smile back at the laugh. His expression naturally twisted at the Emperor’s attitude of suddenly visiting and picking a fight.

“…”

However, he could not show his feelings. Yeon-oh kept his mouth tightly shut and pretended not to know the Emperor’s words.

“You are so noble and excellent, but you don’t have a single friend in the consort palace?”

“I apologize.”

A faint displeasure was embedded in Yeon-oh’s voice. The elegant lines of his eyebrows subtly narrowed. His tightly closed mouth was obstinate but twitched uncomfortably, seemingly annoyed.

The Emperor noticed every small change that appeared on the indifferent face.

“Young Master Gyo, are you angry at me?”

Seonjae spoke, fondling Yeon-oh’s hand held in his grip.

“No, Your Majesty.”

Yeon-oh tried to pull his hand away from the Emperor’s grip. The man gripped Yeon-oh, applying strength to his fingertips. It was truly a skillful movement.

Yeon-oh did not give up and tried once more to pull his hand out of the Emperor’s grasp. The man held Yeon-oh without batting an eyelid.

Yeon-oh, who was desperately suppressing his emotions, quickly grew tired. He just wanted to be alone and hide in some corner.

“Your Majesty.”

Seonjae quietly looked down at Yeon-oh calling him. [Read on RanaTranslations🌸] Although his face looked indifferent, the clear face could not completely hide his sulkiness. The hand held in the Emperor’s grip kept twitching, trying to slip away for the umpteenth time.

“Speak.”

The Emperor’s mouth curved slightly, as if he enjoyed gaining the upper hand in the subtle power struggle.

“Please let go.”

Conversely, Yeon-oh could not completely hide his surging feelings. He regretted uttering the words immediately afterward but could not take them back. He didn’t particularly want to take them back either.

He wished the offended Emperor would just leave.

“Gyo Yeon-oh.”

“Yes.”

“Your lack of friends is not my fault, so are you throwing a tantrum at me?”

Seonjae now held Yeon-oh’s hand captive with both of his hands and smiled as if to show off. At the man’s childish provocation, Yeon-oh tried to sharply shake his hand free.

The large hands grabbed his violently moving wrist and pulled him closer. Yeon-oh instantly ended up leaning into the man’s embrace.

He could not win against the man in a contest of strength. He knew it was meaningless to engage in a battle of nerves with him, and that if they fought ten times, he would lose ten times. The physical difference between the man and himself was large, and Yeon-oh had become incomparably weaker lately compared to before.

He knew all this.

Therefore, he also knew that there was no need to get upset or stubbornly hold onto his pride over something so small. A sorrowful resentment flickered across his face, which was drawn into the wide embrace.

“Who is throwing a tantrum? You misunderstand. Please let go.”

Yeon-oh tried to control his rapid, heaving breaths caused by his heightened emotions. Contrary to his polite tone, a rough tremor was embedded in his voice.

“Young Master Gyo, what you are doing right now is what people call throwing a tantrum. Was that the first time you were ostracized? It seems the pride of the excellent Young Master Gyo has been severely wounded.”

Seonjae spoke, pointing out each of Yeon-oh’s emotions that were plainly visible, even though he was not explicitly fuming. The man’s arrogant and relaxed tone only further inflamed the listener’s anger.